Radiator



P 1930. w. SHURTLEFF 1,775,257

' RADIATOR Filed Dec. 29, 1926 i 14 Eg'i' (L l Patented Sept. 9 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILFRED SHURTLEFF, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HERMAN-NELSON CORPO- BATION, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS RADIATOR Application filed December 29, 1926. Serial No. 157,658.

This invention relates to im rovements in radiators and process of assem ling same.

' One object of the invention is to provide a radiator having exceptionally great radiating capacity compared with its total weight, including a plurality of thin sheetcore to assure perfect conductivity between the fin member and container or core.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a radiator of the character indicated, including a core having a plurality of radiating fin members threaded thereon, wherein each fin member is provided with a section,

embracing the container or core andtelescoped within and having wedging engagement with a similar section of the next adjacent fin to press said sections of the finsagainst the container or core to assure perfect conductivity between the fins and the container or core on which they are threaded.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a radiator including a hollow, elongated core or container and a plurality of radiating fins mounted on the core or container, wherein the fins are composed of relatively thin sheet material and comprise platelike members provided with telescoping Wedging sections including flexible flanges adapted to embrace the core or container so that the flanges of the sections will be pressedinto intimate contact with the core or container due to the wedging action of the telescoped sections of adjacent members. 4

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a radiator including a hollow, elongated container or core of wedge shaped outer contourand a plurality of radiating plate-like fins of thin sheet material threaded thereon, the fins being provided with inner and outer flanges serving as means for spacing the fins, the inner flanges being flexible and embracing said core, each fin having wedge acting means thereon telescopically receiving the tips of the inner flanges of the next ad acent fin to hold said fins onto the core or container and said flanges in contact with the surface of the core or container, to-. gether with wedge means for bodily displacing said fins with respect to the'core or contamer to tightly wedge the parts together, thereby increasing the conductivity between the fins and core or container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of aradiator illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of one end of a radiator, partly in section, illustrating the manner in which the parts are assembled. Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View on enlarged scale, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the fins or plates employed in connection with my improved radiator. And Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional View on an enlarged scale, corresponding substantially to the line 55 of Figure 3, illustrating two adjacent fins or plates, the hollow container or core of the radiator being omitted for the sake of clearness.

In said drawings, A designates a radiator embodying my improvements,. the radiator shown being of the type employed in the usual direct heating systems, that is, in systems where the radiator is placed directly in the room to be heated, and in Figure 2 B designates a radiator embodying my improvements wherein the radiator is employed in connection with an indirect heating system, that is, where the radiator is disposed in a cabinet or housin into which air is drawn and then expelled rom the housing into the room to be heated. In each of the two forms of radiator disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, the radiator includes a central section or unit 10 in the form of a hollow container or core. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the hollow vertical end sections 11-11 are fixed to the .central core section which is substantially the same as the core section 10 shown in Figure 2. The end sections 11 are-each.

. so that the heating medium may pass freely from one section to another. One of the sections 11 is provided with the usual inlet or supply pipe connection 13 and the other section 11 is provided with the return or outlet pipe 14, a control valve 15 being preferably located at any convenient place in the supply pipe and the return pipe 14 being preferably provided with the usual trap not shown. In case the radiator is not supported directly on the floor or is employed in connection with an indirect heating system hereinafter more fully referred to, the supply and return pipe connections may be made directly with the opposite ends of the core section 10 by means of nipples 16, as clearly, illustrated in Fig-.,

ure 2.

The hollow core section 10 shownin Figure 2 and the corresponding central core section in Figure 1, have a plurality of radiating elements or plate-like .fins 17- mounted thereon in a manner morefully hereinafter described.

The coresection or container 10 which is preferably in the form of a casting, as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3,-' has apair of spaced side walls 18-48 which converge upwardly, a relatively short horizontally disposed connecting to longer horizontally disposed connecting bottom wall-20 and a pair of vertical end walls 21. The hollow core 10 thus presents an outer contour of wedge shaped cross section. The hollow core section 10 serves as a container through which the heating fluid may circu late,.the container being the primary heating or radiating unit of the radiator.

In order to produce radiators of relatively light weight per unit of heating capacity, the

core is preferably made of light material and ma be constructed in the form of a, casting.

,lt 1s found preferable to construct the coreor hollow container of an aluminum siliconalloy. ln forming the core, particular'attention is'given to obtaining as smooth an outer finish as is possible by the usual castingor machining operations.

The radiating members or fins 17 are preferably formed of relatively thin light sheet material and are made in plate-like sections. As most clearly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5,

each fi n 17 comprises a relatively large flat plate-like body portion 22 of substantially wall 19, a relatively.

rectangular outline having vertical flanges 23 23 at the side edges thereof, the flanges 23 being disposed at right angles to the body portion 22 and. having inturned outer edges 2424= preferably parallel to the body portion 22. Each plate-like section is provided with a central opening 25 of substantially wedge shaped outline. The side edges of the opening 25 of each plate are defined by a pair ofside flanges 26 -26 formed integral with the body portion 22 of the fin. The'flanges 26 are offset at their inner ends as indicated at 27 and the offset sections 27 are connected to the body portion 22 of the plate by outwardly ofl'set sections 28. The offset sections 27 present inclined flat walls 29 which cooperate with the outer ends of the flanges 26 of the next adjacent fin in a manner hereinafter described. The offset sections 27 also provide shoulders 30 which act as abutment cent section. The-flanges 26 proper are of faces for the tips of the flanges of the adjaf substantially the same length as the outer flanges 23 and the inner and outer flanges together function as means to accurately space the fins when assembled on the radiator core. Due to the offset provided at the inner end of each ofthe flanges 26, a certain amount of flexibility is imparted to the flange. The wedge shaped openings 25 of the fins 17 are slightly greater in height than the corresponding dimension of the core as clearly shown in Figure 3 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The offset section 27 at the inner end of each. flange 26 is so designed as to receive the tip of the flange 26 of the nextadj acent fin-between the wall 29' and the outer surfaceof the hollow core. Above and below the opening 25 the body portion of each The fins 17 are preferably stamped from relatively thin sheet material of high conductivity, for example, the same are preferably made ofaluminum in order to provide lightness, or the same may be made of pure copper when maximum heat conductivity is found desirable. As clearly shown in the drawings, the width of the fins is preferably several times that of the core or hollow container,

diating surfaces, adding greatly to'the economy of operation of the heating unit.

In assembling the fins with the core of the radiator,the fin sections are threaded onto the core in slightly spaced relation. When a number of fins have thus been loosely assembled onthe core, pressure is applied to the group of fins at opposite ends thereof, forcmg the same together. During this pressing operation, the tips of the flanges 26 will enter between the walls.'29 of the offset sections 27 and the side walls 18 of the core. Due to the slight inclination of the walls 29, the

tips of the flanges 26 will be wedged inward- 17 thereby providing relatively large heat raly against the surfaces of the core or container 10, thereby producing intimate contact between the entire surfaces of the flanges 26 and the surfaces of the core. Any slight irregularity in outer face contour of the core due to unavoidable manufacturin conditions will be taken care of by a slig t yielding of the wedge faces 29 which are carried on the offset sections 28 which provide for slight flexing due to the curved portion of the ofl'sets. When the fins have been tightl I forced together, the flanges 23 of each fin wi I bear on the next adj acent fin and the flanges 26 will have their outer extremities bearing on the shoulders 30 of said next adjacent fin, thereby accurately spacing the series of'fins on the core. As will be evident, the conductivity of the heat from the central core or container is dependent upon establishing. an

intimate contact between the core and the fins so that air gaps which hinder'the conductivity will be avoided. By wedging the flanges 26 against the surfaces-of the core throughout the extent of said flanges, inti mate contact between the flanges and the side surfaces of the core is assured and air gaps are substantially entirely avoided. It will be evident that in order to facilitate the assembly or threading of the fins iipon the-core or hollow container, the same must fit the container rather loosely so that they may be slid easily over the surfaces of the same. It is therefore necessary to provide the wedging means hereinbefore described which telescopically receives the tips of the inner flanges of the fins to force the flanges into intimate contact with the core.

Although the outer flanges 23 of the fins may be omitted, the same serve an important function in aiding and producing the proper circulation of air through the radiator. As will be evident the flanges 23 andi26 when the fins are assembled on the core provide vertical passages through'which the air must circulate. This construction of fin for the radiator is highly desirable in connection with radiators employed in heating systems of the indirect. type, wherein the apparatus is sodesigned that the air is forcedvertically through the radiator and its travelconfined within a definite path. Due to the added heating area provided by the outer flanges 23', the construction of the radiator is rendered more compact for the same radiator surface area than when the outer flanges are omitted. V

By providing the offset 27, the assembly of the fins with the core section is greatly facilitated inasmuchas the offset section retains the end or tip of'the co-operating flanges 26' and prevents theflange from being kicked or forced away from the core 10, when the parts are pressed together. In other words,

the opposed converging walls 29 of each fin verted V-shaped channel strip as most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. This key member is inserted between the bottom wall of the openings 25 in the fins and the bottom wall 20 of the core. I

The locking member 32 is preferabl inthe form of a sheet metal channel an when forced between thecore and the lower walls of the openings 25 will act to pull the fins downwardly relatively to the core, thereby drawing the flanges 26 into wedging engagement with the side walls 18 of the core.

Although I have herein shown and described the core of wedge shaped section and the plates as having openings corresponding thereto, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that my invention is not limited to such a construction, but includes constructions wherein the core and the correspondingly shaped openings of the fins are of other contour. My improved construction lends itself to the manufacture of radiators of any desired size .or length, although as will be evident the space occupied and the wei ht of a radiator unit of a given capacity em odying my improvements are a great deal less than the space occupied by and the weight of the common, well-known cast iron construction of the same capacity, and may therefore be more readily handled, shipped and installed than a cast iron radiator, thus effecting a great economy in the cost of handling and installation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided a simple and etficient radiator of exceptionally high capacity per unit of weight, wherein the heat is effectively and economically conducted or transmitted from the heating element or core to the secondary heat radiating elements or fins by providing intimate contact throughout the engaging surfaces of the core ,and fins. It will be, further evident that due to the provision of the flexible flanges of the fins and the constantly acting pressure provided on the flanges, there is no dangerof the contact ment also possesses a decided advantage over radiators having fins Welded, brazed or s01- dered to the core to avoid air gaps, inasmuch as the expansive procedure of thus joining the parts is entirely eliminated and the cost of manufacture greatly reduced.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, my improved construction of radiator may be employed in connection with any of the well-known heating systems, for example, s stems in which hot water, ,steam or other uids are used as a heating medium, and is further adapted for use in connection with either direct heating wherethe radiator is disposed within the room to be heated, or indirect heating, wherein the radlator is enclosed within a housing or cabinet having direct connection vwith the outside atmosphere,

the air being drawn into the cabinet by means of gravity or of a blower and thence forced or drawn through the radiator into the room to be heated.

It is further pointed out that due to the small size and exceptional lightness of my improved radiator as compared with its heating capacity, the same lends itself to use in places where it would be impossible to accommodate a larger radiator, or dangerous to support a heavier one. For example, when desired, my improved radiator may be hung from the ceiling of a room or supported on the wall. In the field of indirect heating apparatus, a radiator unit of my improved design possesses a distinct advantage over other 0 types in that it may be mountedin the heating unit at the place of manufacture and the entire apparatus shipped complete and installed as a unit, thereby effecting great economy in cost of installation, whereas when a radiator of the same capacity but constructed of material having greater weight, such as cast iron, is employed, the radiator must be shipped separately from the remain: der of the heating unit and assembled at the place of installation.

' While I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a radiator, the combination with a hollow core of substantially uniform exterior cross-section; of a plurality of heat r'adiat-f ing fins threaded on said core, eachpf said fins having a wedging section at one 'side embracing said core and a flange at the other side thereof, the wedging sections and flanges of adjacent fins being telescoped to force said flanges into contact with said hollow core.

2. In a radiator, the combination with a hollow core of substantially uniform exterior cross-section; of a-plurality of fins, said fins. being threaded on the core, each of said fins having flangesembracing said core, each fin also having a wedging means thereon distinct from the flange thereof adapted to telescop-' elongated hollow container of substantially uniform exterior cross-section; of a plurality of heat conduct-ing plates mounted on said container, saidplates being provided with flanges embracing said container, each of said flanges being flexibly connected to one of said plates by an oifset section, having a wall inclined with respect to the adjacent surface of said container, the tip section of the entire flange of each plate being wedged between the container wall and the inclined wall of the next adjacent plate to press said flange against the container wall.'

4. In a radiator, the combinat on with an elongated hollow core; of a plurality of heat radiating plates threaded thereon, each of said plates being provided with elongated flanges embracing said core, each ofisaid flanges having an offset connection with one of said plates providing a shoulder co-extensive with the length of said flanges, the free edges of the entire flanges of said plates being nested between the oflset connection and said core, said-shoulders acting as abutment means for the flanges to accurately space said lates on the core. a

5. n a radiator, the combination with an elongated hollow core having side wallsrelatively inclined to form a substantially wedgeshaped sectional contour; of a plurality of heat radiatin fins threaded on said core, said fins havmg inclined wedging sections embracing said core, the we'dging sections of adjacent fins being telescoped to force said sections into intimate contact with said hollow core; and means for forcing said inclined walls of the fins against said inclined core walls.

6. In .a radiator, the combination with a hollow core having side walls relatively inclin'ed to form a substantially wedge-shaped sectional contour of uniform exterior crosssectionyof a plurality of fins-,said fins being threaded on said core, each ofsaid fins having flanges embracing said core, said flanges being inclined to correspond with the inclination ofthe side walls of the core, each fin also having a. wedg'ing means thereon adapted to telescopically receive the flange of the adjacent fin to wedge said flange against the core; and means for forcing said inclined flanges of the fins against the inclined core walls.

7. In a radiator, the combination with an elongated hollow container of substantially uniform exterior cross-section having side walls relativel inclined to form a substantially wedge-s aped sectional contour; of a plurality of heat conducting platesmounted each pl'ate being wedged between the concore, said flanges being corresponding free ends on said container, said plates being provided said flanges against said extended surfaces with flanges embracing said container, each of and in continuous contact therewith.

said flanges being flexibly connected to one In witness that I claim the fore oing I of said plates by an offset section having a have hereunto subscribed my name ecemwall inclined with respect to the adjacent surber, 1926.

faces of said container, the tip of the flange of t V mer wall of the next adjacent plate to press said flange against said container wall; and additional means for forcing said flanges against said inclined container walls.

8. In a radiator, the combination with an elongated hollow core having the side walls thereof inclined to present an outer crosssectional contour of substantially wedge shape; of a plurality of heat radiatin plates threaded on said'core," each of said plates being provided with flanges embracing said 1nclined to the side walls of the core, eadh of said flanges having an offset connection with oneof said plates providing a shoulder, the

of the flanges of said plates bein nested between the oflset connections and said core, said shoulders acting as abutment means for the flanges to accurately space said plates on said core; and wedging means for forcing said flanges against the. side walls of the core.

9. In a radiator, the combination with an elongated core of substantially uniform ex- -ter1or "contour, of wedge shaped cross section; of a plurality of plate-like heat radiating fins threaded on said core, said fins being disposed transversely of said core and provided with flanged openings of substantially wed e shaped section, adapted to accommodate t e core, said plates being oflset outwardly adjacent said openings and said flanges being ofl'set away from said core adjacent said outwardly offset section to provide seats receiving the extremities of the flanges of adjacent, plates; and means for forcing said flanges into wedging engagement with the wedge shaped core.

10. In a radiator, the combination with an elongated hollow core angular in cross sec-V tion; of a plurality of fin elements threaded on said core, said fin elements being connected by tapered, telescoping joint sections embracing said core and bearing on the major portion of the outer surfaces of the core when forced together to maintain contact between the fins and core.

11. In a radiator the combination with a hollow core of substantially uniform exterior cross-section having an extended outer surface; of a plurality of radiating fins threaded on said core, each fin having a plurality of flanges extending side by side transversely of the core and embracing the opposite sides of the core, the entire end sections of the flanges being nested within means on the next adjacent sections adapted to force WILFRED SHURTLEFF. 

